the only exception | ron weasley

ii. my summer?

She felt sick at the sight.

Ernest approached her side and gave her a small smile, holding out a hand for her to shake. She shook it gently before shifting her attention back to Jacob.

"Welcome, new Prefects. This won't be long, I know all of you are likely impatient to greet your friends after a long break. It is vital that you remember that while you are a Prefect, it gives you no right to act as if you are above another. Your role is simply to ensure that the rules are followed and no one abuses them. If seen fit, you are also able to take away house points, but not from other Prefects and any students with a role above yours. Additionally, rosters will be given out soon after our arrival at Hogwarts informing you all of the nights you will be patrolling the castle halls. This role also means that you must help supervise the decorating of the castle for certain events. If you find that you cannot cope with the duties of a Prefect, tell your head of house and they will find a suitable replacement," Jacob explained.

Lorraine raised her eyebrows but did not rebut his words. While somewhat harsh of him to say, there was reason behind it. She had a feeling though, that every head teacher except Snape would offer support first and foremost before resorting to replacing them.

"A benefit of this role, as some of may know, is that you are given access to the bathroom on the fifth floor. This bathroom is strictly for Prefects, Head Boy and Girl, and Quidditch Captains. The password is cool mint. If I hear of anyone telling other students the password, I will see to it that the password is changed and you are banned from entering. It is a privilege that should not be exploited. Now, unless you have any questions, feel free to leave," Jacob finished, settling on talking with the Head Girl (someone Lorraine did not know). Lorraine scoffed, not surprised that the boy neglected to wait for someone to ask a question.

She grabbed Hermione's hand and grabbed her trunk before following Ron to the carriage room Harry was waiting for them in. She didn't even think of Draco when she thought of seeing Harry again. The Slytherin boy could only sneer and glare at the back of her head as she left without him.

"Harry!" Lorraine grinned, rushing to give the boy a hug. He grinned back and reciprocated the display of affection.

"Lorraine! How are you? Got Prefect, too?" he asked as she sat across from him and beside Ron. The two neglected to notice how they were practically pressed together. Hermione didn't let the small action escape her though and grinned subtly.

"It was unexpected," Lorraine hummed. "I'm glad to be considered trustworthy though. Madam Sprout is a sweetheart."

"I'm certainly not surprised," Ron remarked. "Everyone loves you. You're just...likable."

"Sure, Ronald," she laughed. "Don't lie now."

"He's telling the truth," Hermione sang. "I haven't met anyone who has explicitly said that they don't like you."

"Must be the Hufflepuff charm."

"Now who's stereotyping?" Harry teased, which elicited another laugh from Lorraine.

"Touche, Potter."

***

"I'm surprised the Ministry is still letting you walk around free, Potter," Draco sneered as he and his two henchmen walked passed Lorraine, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They had just gotten off the train and he was already bothering them. "You better enjoy it while you can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it."

When Harry attempted to tackle Draco, Ron was quick to grab the boy and hold him back. Lorraine watched in disgust.

"Fuck off, Draco," she snapped. "Go bully someone else. Merlin's Beard..."

"Tsk," the Malfoy boy breathed out, walking away with Crabbe and Goyle. "What'd I tell you? He's a complete nutter."

"Just stay away from me!" Harry yelled.

"It's only Malfoy," Ron mumbled. "What do you expect?"

"Decency," Lorraine muttered, linking her arm with Harry's and leading him towards the carriages that would take them to Hogwarts. It was dark and cold and Lorraine was beginning to shiver as the cold wind hit her like a truck. Her arm slipped out of Harry's grip and she slowed down to walk between Hermione and Ron as the Potter boy watched a carriage with Cho roll away from them. With a small smile, the girl waved to Lorraine. She could only nod in reply.

Cedric really liked Cho.

"Hi, guys," Neville greeted the four of them with some sort of potted cactus in his arms. Lorraine smiled brightly.

"Neville! It's nice to see you. How was your break?"

"Good. Good. How was yours?" the boy enquired.

"As well as it could be with my parents," was all she gave him. Just then, the sounds of hooves trotting across the ground filled the void and Lorraine turned around to be greeted with a Thestral pulling a carriage with Luna Lovegood. It ceased walking as soon as it was a few steps away from the group. She smiled softly, reaching out and letting the creature nuzzle her palm.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"What's what?" Ron replied.

"That, pulling the carriage."

"Nothing's pulling the carriage, Harry. It's pulling itself, like always," Hermione said cautiously.

"It's a Thestral," Lorraine said softly. "As you can see, Harry, I can see it, too. You're not crazy. Beautiful, aren't they? Such a shame they are seen after such an awful event."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked her as the group got on the carriage. Almost immediately, the Thestral began taking them to Hogwarts.

"Such a creature can only be seen after you've seen death," Luna chimed in with her signature dreamy voice that Lorraine always found soothing.

"Everyone, this is Loony Love..." Hermione began, only to stop immediately after she realised the awful mistake she had made. Lorraine frowned.

I forgot they called her that.

"Luna Lovegood," Lorraine corrected quickly.

"What an interesting necklace," Hermione said to Luna in an attempt to change the subject.

"It's a charm, actually," Luna replied, leaning forward as if she were sharing some secret. "Keeps away the Nargles."

Lorraine hadn't actually heard of such creatures from anyone other than Luna, nor had she heard any particularly concrete evidence that they existed, but she enjoyed any sort of creative facts and beliefs that Luna shared regardless of their credibility.

"Hungry," Luna hummed. "I hope there's pudding."

"What's a Nargle?" Ron whispered to Lorraine, who he was beside. She chuckled.

"I don't know, but it mustn't be particularly good," she whispered back, turning her head so that it faced his.

She tried not to flinch or show any sign of being flustered after noticing just how close she was to brushing her nose against his. It seemed he had noticed the same exact thing and quickly turned away.

They had been so close. A mere inch from brushing noses. Such a minor thing in her eyes was blown out of proportion as she realised how she felt. His breath, smelling faintly of the chocolate wand he had eaten on the train, had fanned her face so lightly it was as if it had caressed her. As if he had caressed her. It was a touch so light that it left her with goosebumps and her heart racing in anticipation. And his gaze. Merlin, how did he have the ability to bring her world to a standstill once he gazed into her eyes?

How embarrassing, Lorraine thought, for me to have wanted us to...

She didn't dare to finish that thought.